Shaktipeeth Highway Realigned, Satara Included in ₹1 Lakh Crore Mega Project

The Maharashtra government has approved a revised alignment of the Shaktipeeth Highway, now including Satara district, increasing the project’s length and cost while aiming to boost connectivity and cut travel time significantly.

Pune | April 2, 2026: The Maharashtra government has approved a major revision in the alignment of the ambitious Shaktipeeth Highway project, with Satara district now officially included in the route. The infrastructure project, estimated to cost around ₹1 lakh crore, has undergone changes following sustained opposition from farmers and stakeholders in several regions.

The Shaktipeeth Highway, also known as the Nagpur–Goa expressway, is a key state infrastructure initiative designed to improve connectivity between eastern and western Maharashtra. With the latest बदलाव, the total length of the highway has increased to approximately 856–865 km, up from the earlier proposed 802 km.

A significant highlight of the revised plan is the inclusion of Satara district, where around 40 km of the highway will pass through areas such as Gondawale and Shikhar Shinganapur. This change expands the project’s footprint from 12 to 13 districts, enhancing connectivity in western Maharashtra.

The route will now pass through districts including Wardha, Yavatmal, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. The expressway is expected to connect multiple religious destinations, including prominent Shaktipeeths such as Mahur, Tuljapur, and Kolhapur, thereby boosting pilgrimage tourism.

Officials said the realignment was undertaken after strong resistance from farmers, particularly in Kolhapur and surrounding regions, where concerns were raised over the impact on fertile agricultural land. The revised route attempts to address some of these concerns by altering stretches in affected districts, though opposition from farmer groups is expected to continue.

The project cost has also seen a sharp increase, rising from around ₹80,000 crore to nearly ₹1 lakh crore due to the extended route and additional land acquisition requirements. Approximately 8,700 hectares of land will need to be acquired for the project.

Once completed, the access-controlled expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa-from nearly 18 hours at present to about 8 hours-providing a major boost to logistics, tourism, and regional economic development.

The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will oversee the implementation of the project, with land acquisition processes already underway in several areas. Authorities believe the highway will improve interstate connectivity, ease freight movement, and open up new economic corridors across the state.

However, the project continues to remain contentious. Farmer organisations have raised concerns over land acquisition, environmental impact, and the inclusion of regions without direct religious significance, such as parts of Satara. Some groups have also warned of renewed protests if their demands are not addressed.

Despite the challenges, the government maintains that the revised alignment strikes a balance between development needs and local concerns, positioning the Shaktipeeth Highway as one of Maharashtra’s most significant infrastructure projects in recent years.

Follow us On Our Social media Handles :
Instagram
Youtube
Facebook
Twitter

Also Read- Pune